A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

Well, Friends and Family, we did it. We made it through Thanksgiving. Well, at least we made it through Thanksgiving Day.

For weeks we've been looking ahead to this day with trepidation. We knew everything was going to be different. There would be fewer chairs at the table. We wouldn't be traveling. Those who normally joined our gatherings would not be there. 

For some, it would be in total isolation. For most, just a smaller get-together than our Thanksgivings in the past. It was scary, and we were anxious. But we did it. YOU did it.

This morning I heard the stories of the different types of celebrations.

"I made my first turkey."

"It was just the four of us, so we all worked together in the kitchen, everyone helped. It was awesome!"

"I called relatives and friends I hadn't heard from or spoken to in years, just to tell them I was thinking of them."

"We ate dinner while zooming with our whole family. It was almost like being together!"

"We baked lefse, and then made Christmas cookies."

"We scrapped the traditional Thanksgiving feast and had a carry-out meal from our favorite local restaurant."

"We watched Christmas movies and sang Christmas carols."

"I put up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving."

Hiking. Dressing up. Putting up the lights. Friends, we created a whole new set of memories!

And that gives me hope.

In the book, Think on These Things, author John Maxwell writes "Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest. Hope motivates when discouragement comes. Hope energizes when the body is tired. Hope sweetens while the bitterness bites. Hope sings when all melodies are gone. Hope bring the victory, when no one is winning. You don't need a better environment. You just need more hope. It's the one thing in your life you can't do without!"

I wish I could say that we're through the worst of it, that there won't be hard days ahead. The truth is, there will be many. But we made it through this one. And that makes all the difference.